A season where referees could decide the title

Some seasons, the best footballing sides win their respective leagues.

Some seasons, the teams with the greatest individual talent win their respective leagues.

This time around, it seems like the referees are deciding which side wins the league.

Southampton's visit to the Etihad Stadium started off admirably enough. A silly challenge by Jose Fonte –  frustration caused by Edin Dzeko turning him inside-out – gave City an early penalty and lead, but the Saints never seemed under the cosh in the early proceedings.

Best wishes to Jay Rodriguez and what looked to be a nasty knee injury, freakish in the sense that his touch to bring the ball under control was perfect and the landing seemed sound.

It would be interesting to see some research done into the propensity of knee injuries and the ratio of attacking footballers to defenders who receive them.

Footballers today are fitter, physically stronger and also go through far more rigorous programmes with regards to diet, training and lifestyle choices - this huge influx in joint and ligament injuries perhaps point to the fact that despite muscles being strengthened, joints and ligaments in the human body can only take so much punishment.

Southampton tied the match with a penalty of their own, finished by Rickie Lambert. At 1-1, the match evenly poised for an exciting second half, who else but the referee decided otherwise.

A ball played into Edin Dzeko, who flicks it through for an almost embarrassed David Silva who then squares it for Samir Nasri to tap in.

Never mind the fact that David Silva was so far behind enemy lines, even Winston Churchill would have blushed.

Obviously the onus is on the referee's assistant (I much prefer calling them linesman) to make the call, but unfortunately he had a brain freeze. Effectively, game over.

Quite perhaps the biggest result of the weekend was Cardiff City capitulating at home to an enterprising Crystal Palace side.

Questions will also be asked about Ole Gunnar-Solksjaer's appointment, but this is a situation where the club ownership have to trust the man in charge for the long-term benefit of the club.

Solksjaer is definitely amongst the new breed of managers whose careers have to be nurtured. It is easy to forget that he has managed a club successfully in Norway. Last I heard, in Norway too, it is 22 men, 1 ball and a set of goalposts.

Just like Tim Sherwood at Spurs, one should not expect miracles, especially since Solksjaer and Sherwood inherited tumultuous squads.

In football, you can go to certain managers (Harry Redknapp comes to mind) who are quick fixes. But it is very important for both sets of fans to understand that you cannot always be forced into the "giving 'Arry a call" mentality.

The issue with Cardiff City is obvious - a genuine number 10 could spark this team as it is very clear opponents have targeted Gary Medel on the ball, and Tony Pulis' side perfectly executed this game plan.

Individual talent can win you games, and a lack of individual creativity can lose you games.

While Gary Medel might be one of the best in the business at winning the ball, in possession he has the creativity of Claude Makelele.

A shout-out to Marouane Chamakh, who has seemed like a rejuvenated footballer under Tony Pulis' tutelage; his improvement over time beckons me to ask Jose Mourinho about Fernando Torres.

Perhaps alienating your strikers by criticising them constantly in the media is not the way to go?

The famed bully boys of Stoke City, now supposedly a footballing side, did not get anywhere near Chelsea. They neither bullied nor passed it better than the Blues, clearly a case of lost identity.

Not since the indomitable Mido has an Egyptian footballer so captivated the Premiership; Mido for his off-the-pitch antics, Mohamed Salah with his capacity to annoy the hell out of defenders with his speed, movement and defensive capabilities.

His link-up play with Branislav Ivanovic tortured the left side of Stoke City all day, and it will be exciting to watch how Mourinho will integrate him further into future line-ups.

Renaissance along the Mersey

The city of Liverpool has undergone a football renaissance. While Brendan Rodgers has gone back to playing the "Liverpool way", across the Mersey, Roberto Martinez has reignited a stalled Everton, victims of a boring, unimaginative regime.

Kudos to Martinez for being such a breath of fresh air… the Toffees were simply devastating as they played Arsenal off Goodison Park.

This season, individuals have improved so much - while individuals will always have ability, Martinez has made them aware that there is no limitations in what they can achieve.

He has come in and challenged the individual by demonstrating masterful man-management which is then translated onto the pitch. Never was there any doubt in any area of the team, or in one-on-one duels, where Everton were inferior to Arsenal.

Quite possibly, Mesut Ozil would be loving life at Goodison Park, being able to lay the ball off to a ruthless forward and consistent wingers.

Arsenal were so ordinary that the guile, trickery and confidence of the individuals have cemented Everton as the most improved and exciting team of the season.

To better that, Liverpool have to win the league, this being Brendan Rodgers second season and all.

High-flying Liverpool still needed a referee on their side, the second penalty being a dubious decision at best. A goalkeeper and striker make contact with the ball at the same time, the attacking player hits the turf, referee points to the spot, and a spectacle is lost.

In conclusion, every weekend somebody gets a big call; two big teams this weekend got two very big calls, calls that could decide the title winners. It just so happens that Manchester City will be facing Liverpool next week; remember that Raheem Sterling call at the Etihad?

I wonder which team will benefit from a refereeing decision this time out. – April 9, 2014.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.